Electrically-illuminated display device.



1. E. TUCKER IIL A. B. LEECH. ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Fis. 23. w15.

1 ,1 92,803. Patented July 25, 1916.

uw ,m 6%822@ JAMES E. TUCKER E STATSVA ELECTRICALLY-ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed Februaryt23, 1915. Serial No. 9,792.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JAMES United States, residing at Los Angeles, in

the county of Los Angeles and State of Calnew and useful Improvements in Electrically-Illuminated DiS- play Devices, of which the following 'is a ifornia, have invented vide means for producing thin lines of illu- 'Y mination and shadow.

It is another object to produce a display device in which the lamps used for illumination may be of the uniform bulb size and also have sockets of uniform size.

1t is a still further object to provide a display device in which there is a high intensity of light from the illuminated parts.

Heretofore translucent walls with relatively opaque parts have been disposed in front of lights. The translucent walls have commonly been glass either transparent or frosted upon which is painted with opaque paints pictorial' scenes or characters to be displayed. Such a construction does not permit of a sign which is effective except when the observer is in immediate proximity to the sign, and it is especially ineective when viewed from the side, and the glass or translucent wall by its absorption of light makes the sign inefficient. Another type of electrical display sign which has been used comprises a plurality of compartments formed by upstanding walls; some of the compartments, being unlighted and thus producing a shadow portion on the sign. This construction does not readily lend itself to the display of thin ,lines of illumination since compartments in which lights are to be placed may be so small that the lamp ordinarily used with signs cannot be inserted therein, and in order to illuminate the compartment a special lamp must be used.

Our improved display device provides an illuminated portion in which the light is not obstructed or absorbed, the rays being directly reflected from the back-ground and thus permitting a high tensity of illumination. It also provides shadow producing portions formed from plates which are E. TUCKER' and AUBREY B. Lnnci-I, both citizens of the readily cut and are so disposed that light may be projected through thin lines without requiring special lamps.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsz-Figure 1 discloses a portrait effect secured by our display device. Fig. 2 shows in perspective the silhouette plate 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section through a compartment taken on the line lrof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the pin detail. Fig. 6 is a view showing aperforated plate for obtaining a half-tone eEect. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section as seen on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

' More specifically an upstanding boundary wall 5 producing the pictorial outline is mounted upon a back ground 12. The wall v5 forms a boundary for the illuminated back-ground. Lights 7 indicated in Fig. 1 by circles are disposed over the surface of the back-ground. These lights are preferably ofthe usual incandescent lamp style.

Upstanding from the back-ground 12 and secured thereto preferably by rivet heads are pins 8 for supporting the silouette plates 2. These pins are disposed to oer suitable and secure support forthe plates2. Silhouette plates 2 are opaque and preferably formed of sheet metal. Secured tothe silhouette plates and depending therefrom are pins 9 each having a bore 10 for the receptionl of pins 8, thus forming a telescoping socket connection between the pins 8 ,and 9.

Referring particularly to silhouette plate 2 which forms the shadow for the left eye, a thin line of'illumination 11 is shown. 1f the eye were formed by a walled compartment, it would be difficult to throw light into the recess, and a lamp of special construction would be required for the compartment. By our construction a lamp can be placed immediately under the silhouette plate 2; the reflected light from the back-ground passing through the slit 11. Silhouette plate 18 is shown with a slot 19and a lamp under said slot of greater diameter than the width of the slot.

The telescoping pin construction permits convenient renewal of lights 7 since the silhouette plate can be slipped off the background pins 8, exposing the lamp and allowving it to be removed from the socket, and a new lamp inserted. The silhouette after renewal of the lamp can ping pins 9 over the pins 8.

be replaced by slip-V To produce half-tone effects the silhouette plate may be perforated as shown by the silhouette 6, the construction being also disclosed in Fig. 6 in Which the plate 13 is perforated With holes 14 which permit light to pass through the plate 13, and diminishing the intensity at the spot covered.

Compartments formed by boundary Walls may also be used in conjunction With our device. Such a compartment is indicated by 15, and referring more particularly to Fig. 1 it comprises boundary Walls 16 and 1T, upstanding from the back-ground 12. By using such boundary Walls the background Within the boundary Walls may be cast in shadow. Our construction is also adapted to be used with boundary Walls separating the portions of the outline into compartments having back-grounds of different colors.

`What We claim is:

1. In an electrical display device, the combination with a back-ground formed to define the outline of a picture, of a plurality of lights distributed thereover, relatively opaque plates spaced from the back-ground and arranged to conceal a portion only of said lightsl thereby forming silhouettes to produce pictorial effects, and supporting means for said plates.

2. In an electrical display device, the combination With a back-ground formed to deine the outline of a picture, of outstanding pins mounted on said back-ground, a plurality of lights distributed over said background, relatively opaque plates spaced from the back-ground and arranged to conceal a portion only of said lights thereby forming silhouettes to produce pictorial c1:- fects, and sleeves secured to said plates and slidingly engaged with said pins.

In Witness that We claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 9th day 01 February, 1915.

J. E. TUCKER. A. B. LEECH.

Witnesses MILDRED BATES, MARGUERITE BATES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v 

